On this Memorial Day, I'm (Marty Lester) honoring Lori Lester's Great-uncle Clement G. Marcus. Clement was 19 when he gave his life in the trenches and No Man's Land of France. On September 29, 1918, Pvt. Marcus and the other New Yorkers of the 108th Infantry stormed the supposedly impregnable Hindenburg Line into a hail of German machine guns. More than 300, including Clement, never made it back that day. However, the Allied advance broke the line, helping lead to the Armistice a mere six weeks later.

Clement rests in the Somme-American Cemetery in Bony, France, with several of his comrades in arms, near where they fell.

Shifting the Sun

When your father dies, say the Irish,
you lose your umbrella against bad weather.
May his sun be your light, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the Welsh,
you sink a foot deeper into the earth.
May you inherit his light, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the Canadians,
you run out of excuses.
May you inherit his sun, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the French,
you become your own father.
May you stand up in his light, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the Indians,
he comes back as the thunder.
May you inherit his light, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the Russians,
he takes your childhood with him.
May you inherit his light, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the English,
you join his club you vowed you wouldn't.
May you inherit his sun, say the Armenians.

When your father dies, say the Armenians,
your sun shifts forever.
And you walk in his light. 
                   

Mrs. Theresa A. Marcus Ambuske was born on January 24, 1934 in Olean, New York.  She was the daughter of John J. and Helen V. Subjeck Marcus.  She graduated from Olean High School, and subsequently married Richard Ambuske on June 25, 1955 in St. John's Church in Olean, New York.  Theresa worked as a secretary at the former St.Patrick's School, St. Bonaventure University, and Dresser Clark Brothers, and retired as a Teacher's Assistant with the Salamanca Central School.  Theresa was a member of Our Lady of Peace Parish where she served as a Eucharistic Minister, and was a former member of the Holy Cross Athletic Club.  She was a Yankees fan.  Theresa and her husband Richard have two daughters, Susan Ambuske who resides in Salamanca, New York, and Kathleen Hanick who resides in Erie, Pennsylvania, three grandchildren, 1 great grandson, and several nieces and nephews. s Theresa died on September 29, 2010 at age 76 in Salamanca, New York following a brief illness.

Doris J. Marcus Dwaileebe was born June 12, 1928 in Olean, New York.  She was the daughter of John J. and Helen Subjeck Marcus.  She was married to Richard Dwaileebe, also of Olean, New York.  Dorothy graduated from Olean High School with the Class of 1946 and was employed by the Olean Credit Bureau until her retirement.  Dorothy was a member of St. John's Church in Olean, New York.  Dorothy has two sons, John R. Dwaileebe of Fairfax, Virginia, and Michael S. Dwaileebe of Riverside, California, three grandchildren Dale, Jessica, and Sofia, and a great-granddaughter Jaya.  Dorothy passed away Saturday, May 1, 2010 at the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, New York after a short illness.

John J. Marcus was born May 30, 1905 in Austin, Pennsylvania.  He wa the son of Paul and Anna Marcus.  On June 7, 1927 he married the former Helen V. Subjeck of Olean, New York.  A resident of Olean most of his life, John was employed by the Olean Glass Company for many years and worked at Dresser Clark fom 1948 until his retirement in 1969.  He was a member of St. John's Church and a life member of the Pulaski Club and 4601 Steelworkers Retirees Association.  He was predeceased by three brothers, Edward Marcus, Clement Marcus, and Warner Marcus, and two sisters, Celia Carls and Mary Pickett.  He died on Sunday, April 18, 1993 in Olean General Hospital after a short illness.

Mrs. Helen Virginia Subjeck Marcus was born in Olean, New York on October 27, 1906.  She was the daughter of Michael and Frances Galenzak Subjeck.  On June 7, 1927 she married John J. Marcus in Olean, New York.  She was a lifetime resident of Olean and a member of St. John's Church of Olean.  She had three brothers, Frank Subjeck of Detroit, Michigan, Joseph Subjeck of Olean, New York, and John Subjeck of Clearwater, Florida, and a sister, Celia Bateski of Olean, New York.  She died on Tuesday, November 30, 1976 following a long illness.